Weiner: &lsquo;This Isn&rsquo;t the 1970s&rsquo;

Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., doesn’t think a merged satellite radio company would create a monopoly, and said Sirius and XM can’t prevent another company from entering the market. Referring to their business models, he asked: “Who in their right mind would want to get into that marketplace?” which generated laughs in the room.

Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., doesn’t think a merged satellite radio company would create a monopoly, and said Sirius and XM can’t prevent another company from entering the market. Referring to their business models, he asked: “Who in their right mind would want to get into that marketplace?” which generated laughs in the room.

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Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., doesn’t think a merged satellite radio company would create a monopoly, and said Sirius and XM can’t prevent another company from entering the market. Referring to their business models, he asked: “Who in their right mind would want to get into that marketplace?” which generated laughs in the room.

But in seriousness, he said, “the 1970s tone of the discussion” needs to stop. “The fact that Mr. Rehr is fighting so hard means there will be more competition” if the merger goes through.

Mark Cooper of the Consumer Federation of America just about came out of his seat to argue that just because there’s choices for audio entertainment doesn’t mean they compete directly with satellite radio. While satellite aggregates the program niches that terrestrial radio can’t support in a local market, and sells them nationwide, he said forcefully, “These are complements, not substitutes” for terrestrial radio.

Ric Keller, R-Fla. — who said he remains neutral on the merger — tried to get Karmazin to be specific on what kind of “price hold” window he would agree to, in order to get the deal approved. Mel wasn’t specific other than to say sometime between two to four years.

Separately, Mel sought to clarify a new pricing scheme, a confusing part of past hearings. He said, “Today you pay $12.95” to get each service. If the companies merged, “We would create a lower price package.” He threw out a possible figure of $8.95 a month “or some lower price” and said the merged entity “would be willing to work with regulators” on that point.